Raba to Join U.N.H Athletics Hall of Fame

John Raba, head men’s lacrosse coach at Wesleyan since 1997, has been selected as one of seven inductees for the University of New Haven Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2010.  John is a 1993 graduate of U.N.H. and a former standout in both football and lacrosse there.

Coming aboard the full-time Wesleyan staff in 1996 and now an adjunct associate professor in the physical education department, Raba enters his 14th season as head coach of men’s lacrosse during 2010. Raba has a 155-67 record at Wesleyan, including an 18-3 mark in 2007, the best season ever at the college, and a 16-4 record in 2006 as the team advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament semi-finals both years. For his accomplishment in both 2006 and 2001, when the team went 17-3, Raba was named NESCAC and NEILA Division III Coach of the Year.

Raba earned his fifth NEILA Coach of the Year award following a 15-4 season in 2009 as his Cardinals captured the NESCAC tournament title for the first time and qualified for the NCAAs for the fourth time in five years.  He was named co-Coach of the Year by the NEILA in 2005.

Raba serves on the USILA All-American Committee and is a regional representative on the NCAA men’s lacrosse advisory selection committee. In addition to coaching lacrosse, John assisted with the football team during the fall from 1996 through 2007, working on the defensive side of the ball each of those 12 seasons with eight seasons as defensive coordinator (1998-2005). He stepped down from that post in 2008, assuming the new position of recruiting coordinator for the athletics department.

A 1993 graduate of the University of New Haven, John was an All-American lacrosse player for the Chargers as a grad student in 1994 after leading Division II in scoring as a senior in 1993. Also outstanding on the gridiron, John was a team captain, a two-time all-New England pick as a fullback and earned team MVP honors as well. John was honored by U.N.H. as its male athlete of the year in both 1991-92 and 1992-93.

Raba will be part of the 27th class to join the U.N.H. Athletics Hall of Fame during its induction on March 26.